Brewer’s bill signings overshadowed by tax plan?
Considering the internecine warfare that has been the hallmark of Jan Brewer’s tenure as governor, some Republicans may have been tempted to forget why they were so happy when Janet Napolitano left. But one look at the scores of conservative bills Brewer signed may be enough to jog their memories.
New law expands religious expression in schools
Sen. Linda Gray often cites "The New England Primer" while delivering speeches on the Senate floor. In a committee hearing June 10, the Glendale Republican read an excerpt: "I believe in God the Father, Almighty Maker of heaven and Earth, and in Jesus his only Son our Lord, which was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and bur[...]
Fewer lawmakers may be present for special session
Fewer lawmakers are likely to be present for the special session July 20. About a third of senators and representatives planned to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures summit in Philadelphia City this week, according to the Senate and the House.
Capitol Quotes 5/29
“I want you to know that the events that led to Kerry’s death are very rare, and that she would not want you to worry. Hug your family and cherish... […]
House panel advances latest budget fix, filling $650M gap
Lawmakers on a House panel generally agreed an emergency measure intended to repair the fiscal 2009 budget amounts to bad policy, but the bill still managed to gain approval along a party-line vote. One by one, legislators explained their objection to using accounting gimmicks and raiding funding in schools' bank accounts.
Budget gets House panel OK, but it’s just a start
A legislative panel may have spent the better part of seven hours debating, amending and approving a package of budget bills, but that doesn't mean action on a plan to solve a roughly $3 billion deficit is imminent. Rather, many lawmakers say the significance of the committee's work is that it sets the stage for progress to be made.
House panel moves all 10 budget bills despite Democrat opposition
A budget crafted by House Republicans has cleared the first hurdle, gaining committee approval May 5 by a party-line vote, though it is unclear when the proposal will be taken up by the entire chamber.
School districts plan for all-day kindergarten
If state legislators don't fund all-day kindergarten, Phoenix-area school districts say they have a backup plan to keep it in place.
Changes to budget plan could spike support from some members
The biggest differences between the Republican budget proposal released April 27 and a draft leaked to the press a month earlier were two components designed to generate more than $500 million in revenue without raising taxes. And those two ideas have created the biggest backlash against the latest proposal.
Brewer mulling legality of taking city fees; third try for Senate Approps hearing
Republican budget proposals have been circulated at the Capitol for several days now, but lawmakers have cancelled three separate committee hearings during the past week intended to address the fiscal 2010 budget shortfall.
GOP budget details released; reaction mixed
Republican lawmakers have released a budget proposal they say will balance a $3.3 billion budget deficit without raising taxes or borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars. Instead, they will rely heavily on cuts to education funding and municipalities.
Budget document to include $700M in cuts, no tax increase
Republican leaders are expected to unveil a budget proposal today that would close the state deficit without raising taxes and without borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars.